DHA Lahore Religious Affairs Branch Dealing with Religious Matters
INTRODUCTION
A proper branch for dealing with religious matters was established in DHA Lahore in 2006. Following the true spirit of Islamic injunctions to maintain unity/harmony among Muslims, motto of DHA Lahore is “ALL MOSQUES FOR ALL MUSLIMS”, which means “Every mosque is mosque of every Muslim”. Thus no mosque in DHA is specified for any particular school of thought, sect or religious group. Likewise, no mosque in DHA is named after / assigned to any sect or school of thought on the basis of some quota system etc as to save/protect the Muslim population against any disintegration in shape of grouping, sectarianism and controversial issues / disputes.
ACTIVITIES – DHA MOSQUES
TEACHING OF HOLY QUR’AN. Dars-e-Qur’an is delivered after Fajr prayers. Hifz class in all the Phase Mosques is conducted from 0730 hours to 1200 hours, Nazira Qur’an class is organized daily after Asr prayers in Sector mosques.
FRIDAY SERMON / PRAYER. Topics of sermons for the whole year are selected and conveyed to all Khateebs for preparation of khutba well in time. Script free from all types of sectarian tinges/controversial issues is submitted by the nominated Khateeb to Director Religious Affairs for scrutiny through the Khateeb Phase Mosque. After scrutiny, copies of the script are issued to all concerned Khateebs.
MONTHLY REFORMATIVE LECTURES. Monthly reformative lectures are delivered turn-wise by Khateebs on a specific topic of common interest. These are delivered in the mosques after Maghrib prayer as per the programme duly issued for a calendar year. All the religious staff and residents of the concerned Sector do attend the lecture.
TARAVEEH PRAYERS. It is organized in every mosque. Arrangements are also made for ladies in Phase Mosques and some Sector Mosques where space is available.
EITEKAF. Arrangements in this regard are made in each mosque where standard cubicles are provided to the ‘Mu’takifeen’ duly numbered. Anyone who intends to observe Eitekaf has to register himself with the concerned mosque.
QIYAM-UL-LEL (SHABEENA). It is held in the last odd nights i.e 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th of Ramadhan-ul-Mubarak (Six paras each night) in one of Phase Mosques.
EID PRAYER ARRANGEMENTS. Arrangements are made for offering Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha prayers in all the Phase Mosques and some selected Sector Mosques.
ANNUAL RELIGIOUS EVENTS
MEHFIL-E-ZIKR-E-HABIB. Special lectures on various aspects of Seerat-un-Nabi are held in the Phase Mosques by duly approved eminent (non-controversial) guest speakers during the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal between Maghrib and Isha’ prayer.
HAJJ SEMINAR. Hajj Seminar spread over two days is organized each year for the prospective Hajis in DHA Auditorium. Special Hajj Trainer is invited to impart the Hajj training. Approx 2000 people do benefit from the seminar.
EDUCATIONAL STANDARD FOR MOSQUE STAFF
There is a proper laid down selection procedure/criteria for induction of mosque staff. No individual is recruited just on the basis of belonging to a particular sect/school of thought over looking the merit. Pre requisite for induction of mosque staff is as under:-
KHATEEB/NAIB KHATEEB
Hifz-e-Qur’an-e-Kareem
Shahadat-Ul-Aalamiyya (The highest degree of Dars-e-Nizami)
MA (Any subject from a Recognized University
MOAZZIN
Hifz-e-Qur’an-e-Kareem
Certificate of Qir’at-o-Tajweed
Dars-e-Nizami (Preferable)
Matriculate
KHADIM (ONLY IN PHASE MOSQUES)
Hifz-e-Qur’an-e-Kareem
Matriculate
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION/GENERAL GUIDE LINE
To maintain purely uncontroversial status of DHA mosques following is ensured:-
No DHA mosque is titled with an individual name/identity like Toheed Masjid, Muhammadiyya Masjid, Siddiqiyya Masjid or Ghousiyya Masjid etc. Rather, it is only to be known as Jami’e Masjid Phase so and so or Sector so and so.
Mosque staff i.e Khateeb, Moazzin and Khadim cannot propagate, publicize or preach a particular sect/school of though. Failing to which the defaulter becomes liable for termination/discharge on disciplinary grounds.
No session/celebration of a particular school of though/sect is allowed to be held in DHA mosques.
Only those celebrations/sessions are held which reflect the collective interest and unity of Muslim Ummah such as Seerat-un-Nabi Conferences, Yaum-e-Azadi and Yaum-e-Pakistan.
Any advertisement, chart, board or writing which represents some particular sect, group, party or school of thought is not permitted to be fixed, pasted or hung in any DHA mosque.
Only that religious literature is purchased/kept in mosque libraries which meets/fulfils the collective necessity of Muslims.
No addition before, in the middle or at the end of simple Aazan can be made in any DHA mosque as to make it fully objection-free and maintain the pure undisputed practice/tradition of Islam.
No irrelevant/unauthorized person is allowed to use loud speaker, hold any meeting, session (Majlis or Mehfil), deliver Dars-e-Quran/Hadith/Jumuah speech, run training class, address the people, recite Naat or make an appeal for donation etc.
Any advertisement, chart, board or writing which represents some particular sect, group, party or school of thought is not permitted to be fixed, pasted or hung in any DHA mosque.
No unauth/unconcerned pers is allowed to stay daytime or at night in DHA mosques.
Festivity of Nikah of DHA residents if held in the mosque, is to be conducted by the Khateeb only and no outsider scholar is allowed to be invited for this purpose or making a sermon in this respect. Likewise, Namaz-e-Janaza is also to be lead by the concerned Khateeb.
No announcement of any session, mehfil or majlis etc is allowed to be made in DHA mosques. However, announcement for some missing child/person and Namaz-e-Janaza or an announcement, ordered assigned by the DHA administration may be allowed by the concerned Khateeb.